As we inch closer to the draft, we have a better idea of how the Baltimore Ravens might approach their first-round selection. The Ravens’ biggest needs are wide receiver, cornerback, edge rusher and possibly a quarterback, and it’s likely one of these positions will be addressed with the 22nd pick.
Baltimore only has five picks and just two picks in the top 100. In this exercise, we will assume the Ravens stay at No. 22 and do not make any trades. I’ll go over their first-round options and how they will pivot from there in the later rounds.
In our second scenario, the Ravens go with a cornerback with the 22nd pick. Marcus Peters is still a free agent and the Ravens were reportedly linked to Darius Slay. This is a deep class of cornerbacks.
Who could be available in the first round?
- Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
- Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
- Deonte Banks, Maryland
- Cam Smith, South Carolina
Christian Gonzalez is considered the top cornerback prospect in this class and is likely to go in the top 10 picks. Witherspoon might be out of range as well, but the latter three should all be in play.
Who are their third- and fourth-round options?
Wide receiver and pass rusher make the most sense here. Here are a couple players to keep in eye on in Rounds 3 and 4.
Wide Receiver:
Rashee Rice, SMU
Rakim Jarrett, Maryland
Nathaniel Dell, Houston
Tyler Scott, Cincinnati
Trey Palmer, Nebraska
Pass Rusher:
Tuli Tuipulotu, USC
Isaiah McGuire, Missouri
Byron Young, Tennessee
Caleb Murphy, Ferris State
Isaiah Hand, Florida A&M
What other needs could be addressed in Rounds 5 and 6?
The Ravens’ secondary needs are interior linemen on both side of the ball, depth at linebacker and a developmental tackle. Targeting a backup quarterback in case Lamar Jackson doesn’t remain with the team is also an option.
What could the Ravens draft hypothetically look like in this scenario?
No. 22: Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
No. 86: Rashee Rice, SMU
No. 124: Caleb Murphy, EDGE, Ferris State
No. 157: Warren McClendon, OL, Georgia
No. 199: Malik Cunningham, QB, Louisville
I fully anticipate the Ravens to do some maneuvering to acquire additional draft picks, but are you satisfied with this draft?
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Penn State Athletics